What Is The Best Camera for An Amateur Photographer in 2018? (Our Top 10 List)

(1) what are the top 10 best digital cameras for beginners to buy in 2018;(2) specifically, what are the best entry-level cameras from 4 different brands;(3) what key parameters to look for in a camera, especially as an amateur photographer.

I hope you’ll agree with me when I say:

Life is not possible today without a good, quality camera… Or is it?

Well, finding that “good, quality camera” isn’t an easy job.

Photography is much more than just a hobby.

This seemingly innocent occupation requires a decent investment, the bulk of which is spent on the acquisition of a good camera.

Professional photographers who have made a hobby their main job need expensive equipment that has not only high key parameters, but also includes a number of subtle, and often completely redundant functions and settings.

However, if you are a beginner photographer, we recommend that you pay attention to the following key parameters of the camera:

1) Camera Type:

Many photography masters say that compact digital cameras are ideal for beginners, the mastering of which is much simpler than studying DSLRs.

However, the reverse is also true: if one learns how to work with SLR cameras, the beginning photographer will have a device with a large set of functions and settings that are inaccessible to digital analogues.

2) Camera Cost:

Do not overlook this factor, because the better is the camera the greater is its the price.

It so happened that compact digital cameras are much cheaper than DSLRs, even under comparable (or superior) parameters. However, the latter give greater freedom of creativity, which is the decisive factor in determining the type and price range.

Best Mirrorless Camera for Beginners in 2018

By the way, I will also include video-reviews from YouTube to enhance your knowledge of each camera mentioned below.

Best Canon SLR Cameras for Beginners 2018

Canon EOS 70D Body

Quick Specs:

Type: Mid-size SLR

Weight: 755 g

Sensor: CMOS

Lens: Canon EF/EF-S

ISO sensitivity: Auto, 100-12800 (25600 with boost)

Category: Best Canon SLR Cameras for Beginners

Subcategory: Best Price

My (2018) Rating: 4.7/5

A camera that has conquered many professionals, is capable of becoming a reliable gadget in the hands of beginning photographers.

Despite the fact that Canon EOS 70D Body doesn’t have any special positioning, it can be attributed to the category of universal cameras suitable for both photography masters and talented beginners.

What stands this camera out is the new structure of the matrix Dual Pixel CMOS AF, which provides smooth and accurate automatic focus adjustment for video recording in Full HD format, as well as fast autofocusing when taking photos in Live View mode.

Video shooting fans will truly enjoy the stereo sound recording using the built-in microphone, as well as the ability to improve the sound quality with a plugged-in external microphone.

In manual mode, it is possible to fully control such parameters as ISO sensitivity and aperture.

This freedom of action helps the beginning photographer to improve their skills.

Friendly interface still makes you spend some time in the settings but over time you will not have any issues with it.

However, many experienced people point out that it’s worthwhile to move on to the EOS 70D while having at least some experience in using high-end DSLRs.

Out of features of this model, you can notice the rotary screen, which greatly helps in shooting from uncomfortable angles. It also provides you with the possibility of remote work from your smartphone.

If you use a smart approach to purchasing Canon EOS 70D Body, then there are no grounds for discontent and disappointment – the camera is just as good as its (rather average) price tag.

What you might like about this camera:

good color rendition

the sensor is 20.2 megapixels

What you might not like about this camera:

image noise at high ISO values

Check out the video review of Canon 70D below:

Final Thoughts: Canon EOS 70D – Great for Total Amateurs and Enthusiast Photographers

Canon EOS 70D is a worthy successor of the semi-professional cameras. It combines the reliability of older models, high performance and affordable cost.

Between the auto focus, audio displays, touch screen and great camera body I think this one is a real winner.

I can recommend it to both novice amateur photographers and experienced enthusiast photographers.

Canon EOS 80D is a mid-level SLR camera that can become an excellent “educational device” for beginners, and is also guaranteed not to get lost among advanced camera models.

The study of Canon EOS 80D Kit can last a very long time – the search of all possible modes and functions (especially if there is an extended set of lenses) is capable of capturing novice photographers for several days.

However, the result of such “harsh” studying can exceed all expectations: beginner photographers talented by nature can see impressive results from the very first works.

The ergonomics of EOS 80D is a successful compromise between size and convenience.

It does not take up much space compared to its full-frame counterparts and it’s comfortable shooting with it. It is also convenient to operate the camera using the touch interface.

Video shooting is possible in Full HD resolution with a frequency of up to 50/60 frames per second. The videographer is offered an excellent autofocus, the manual exposure control, and an input for headphones and a microphone.

What you might like about this camera:

availability of wireless connectivity with other devices

good dynamic design at low ISO values

the presence of a built-in interval timer (dedicated to fans of time-lapse shooting)

What you might not like about this camera:

has relatively average technical capabilities

pretty high price tag

As usual, below I am including an excellent video-review of Canon EOS 80D done by Chris Niccolls, Jordan Drake and Mike Drew:

Canon which always confidently felt in the market of SLR cameras, further strengthened its position by releasing another very successful model – the Canon EOS 80D.

And even though this camera does not have any revolutionary or breakthrough technologies, its main advantage is a serious set of characteristics and qualities.

For enthusiast videographers, this camera is simply a gift, providing a working phase autofocus in Live View mode in combination with a fully articulated touch screen and an output for an external microphone.

It has good technical data: it has high ISO values, it provides high-quality automation work and a wide range of convenient auto-modes.

Even a professional photographer will be glad to work with this camera as the true potential of the camera outshines many of the competitive models.

First, compactness and a light weight of the SLR camera (407 grams without the lens) should be noted, which, in comparison with the older models is a good result.

Secondly, the ergonomic parameters turned out to be successful: the camera focuses quickly, the camera’s grip is convenient, and the control can be done via the touch screen.

If you don’t take into account the noise starting from about ISO 6400, then the Canon EOS 100D Kit can safely be attributed to the category of the best cameras for beginners.

The quality of the picture corresponds to the level of the amateur DSLR.

In the kit with the camera goes a standard kit zoom lens – EF-S 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 IS STM lens with quiet autofocus, which is considered the best for video recording. When recording scenes, you can focus by touching the screen.

What you might like about this camera:

excellent price

good design

the availability of software for the rapid distribution of photos

FULL HD video shooting (1920 x 1080 with a frequency of 25/30 frames per second);

there is lens in the camera set

What you might not like about this camera:

noise starting from about ISO 6400

Overall, a beginner in photography will find in Canon EOS Rebel LS1 a great tool for creating his/her first photo frames in many ways thanks to automation and a great system of built-in hints.

Final Thoughts: Canon EOS Rebel SL1 – A Kind of Combination of DSLR and Compact Camera

Canon EOS Rebel SL1 combines the advantages of a DSLR and a compact digital camera.

It is the smallest, lightest DSLR available on the market. If you replace the kit lens with a compact fix, this SLR camera will take up a minimum of space and become an ideal companion in distant travel.

On the other hand, if you have basic photography skills, the set of settings available on this SLR can’t but make you smile. As for the technical equipment, the camera outshines most of its competitors, including from its own line.

What you might not like about this camera:

I really enjoy watching Chris Nicholls’ videos, so I decided to attach his review of Nikon D7100:

Nikon D7100 – An Excellent Choice for Enthusiast Photographers

Nikon D7100 is an excellent choice for an enthusiast photographer who is familiar with the theory and practice of photography.

In general, this camera was very successful given its highest quality of the image (especially with good optics and at low ISO), convenience and fast control, as well as an impressive set of characteristics.

Only a relatively little image buffer can limit the serious professional application of D7100.

It is able to create surprisingly beautiful pictures, and the excellent characteristics of the device helped it to occupy an honorable place in my top-10 list of the best digital cameras for beginners.

Quick Specs:

Sony a68 (also known as ILCA-68) is an amateur level camera, endowed with a number of abilities of more serious models.

In its essence, this is a simplified version of the semi-professional model ILCA-77M2, from which the a68 has borrowed many strengths.

The first one is autofocus.

The 79-point phase AF module works clearly, quickly and steadily in all conditions. Face recognition function and focusing on the eyes only adds convenience.

It definitely needs to be praised for ergonomics, which is thoughtful and with a finely tuned control. An additional bonus is a monochrome display on the top panel. The tilting LCD also helps in operation.

With Sony a68 you can shoot great panoramic photos, and enjoy the HDR photography.

Video shooting is also at its best: Full HD with a frequency of up to 50/60 frames per second and a high bit rate. During video shooting, phase autofocus is enabled.

As for the quality of the image, the camera confidently shoots at ISO 1600, with the ISO 3200 being already a “border line”.

The 24 MP resolution is perfectly implemented in Sony a68 – with the correct settings, you can achieve an excellent balance of color depth and naturalness, something that lacks in many of its competitive cameras.

What you might like about this camera:

high speed of continuous shooting

effective built-in stabilizer

good image quality up to ISO 3200

high-quality video with autofocus and stabilization

What you might not like about this camera:

plastic camera body

average screen

small buffer

Also, it has slightly reduced detail compared to camera models that are equipped with anti-moire filter sensors.

Check out the video review of Sony Alpha-68 (ILCA-68):

Sony a68 – Helps You Make The First Step Into The World of Professional Photography

Sony a68 is the most anti-crisis camera in the market. It is an excellent solution for photographers making the first step to professional photography.

This model allows you to receive beautiful shots in difficult conditions, and it has many advanced features borrowed from Sony’s older sister ILCA-77M2.

Yes, the developers saved themselves from work on secondary elements but this way they minimized the cost of the camera.

And you need to consider it from this point of view: as the simplest camera in the lineup, the replacement of SLT-A37. In this case, all the disadvantages of the camera such as small buffer size, average kit lens and noise at high ISO values become quite forgivable. It has some advantages too.

First of all, it’s the price. Sony a58 is acamera that costs less than $500.

Add to this convenient camera body, thoughtful management, the ability to build a frame on a tilting display with the preservation of fast phase autofocus, a capacious battery … And in the end we will get a very good camera for a beginner photographer.

What you might like about this camera:

low cost of the kit

low weight

a lot of filters and auto shooting modes

high rate of continuous shooting

tilting LCD

high-quality electronic viewfinder

What you might not like about this camera:

high noise level at ISO above 1600 units

average kit lens

Check out John Sison’s video-review of Sony SLT-A58:

Final Thoughts: Sony SLT-A58 Will Realize Almost Any Creative Intentions of A Beginner Photographer

Sony SLT-A58 is designed for novice amateur photographers. It is perfect for those who want to buy their first camera and those who already got tired from limitedcapabilities of point-and-shoot cameras.

This is a simple, but at the same time, a functional camera that can realize almost any creative intentions of a beginner photographer.

Beginners will certainly enjoy its ability for a fast autofocus, an abundance of auto modes and various additional effects.

The filling of this device really looks decent: a matrix of 24.71 Mp allows you to take photos with a resolution of 6016 x 4000, and instantaneous stabilization is achieved due to the use of optics and the shift of the sensor.

The manufacturer also improved the phase focusing compared to its earlier camera models, which is a bonus.

A few interesting points to notice in terms of Pentax K-3 ergonomics.

The first is that the manufacturer explicitly copied the control elements from Canon, and the second is an amazingly comfortable grip, even despite the camera’s significant weight of 800g.

What you might like about this camera:

improved autofocus

two-level image stabilization system

high speed shooting

good quality photos for the crop

What you might not like about this camera:

high price tag

Below I am attaching Chris Nicholls’ video-review of Pentax K-3, who has done an amazing job as usual:

Final Thoughts: Pentax K-3 – An Excellent Choice For a Photo Traveler

Pentax K-3 is an excellent choice for a photo traveler.

It has proven itself in shooting in the most difficult conditions: no snow, no rain, no shortage of light will be a problem.

Pentax made a rather great camera, which can confidently compete with other mid-range SLRs.

Out of all cameras, it can be argued thatmirrorless compact camerasare the most suitable for beginners in terms of acquiring photography skills and developing as a photographer.

One of the most worthy candidates for the title of the best mirrorless camera for beginners is Canon PowerShot SX60 HS, which has, if not outstanding, then quite great technical characteristics and ergonomic parameters.

As with many Canon products, this camera has the Connect function, which is necessary for remote shooting and fast transfer of multimedia data via Wi-Fi.

Among the technical parameters the sensor of 16.8 megapixels should be noted, as well as a large range of focal lengths (the camera is suitable for macro photography, portraits, panoramas, etc.)

Its main advantage is a lens with an amazingly high optical zoom of 35x.

It will be appreciated by travel lovers who will like taking photos of things in distance that they can’t physically come close to.

For most buyers, this superzoom is likely to be the first digital camera, so its ability to work in automatic mode plays a very important role.

It does a good job of determining the exposure in most complex scenes, and, if necessary, it is ready to receive corrections from the user.

What you might like about this camera:

65x zoom

built-in Wi-Fi

tilting screen

convenient grip

high rate of continuous shooting

What you might not like about this camera:

difficulties shooting in low light conditions

large physical dimensions

And it’s yet another great budgetcamera that you can get for less than $500.

Check out how incredible the zoom of this camera is:

Final Thoughts: Canon PowerShot SX60 HS – An Inexpensive Camera With The Most Versatile Lens

You should consider getting what’s called a bridge camera – these devices tend to be more affordable than DSLRs, with similar handling and versatility, and many offer superb features like the massive 65x zoom of the Canon PowerShot SX60 HS.

If you just came into the world of photography and you need an inexpensive camera with the most versatile lens, then this is your choice.

Final Thoughts on the 10 Best Digital Cameras for Beginners Worth Buying in 2018

You decided to get into the world of photography because you are not satisfied with point-and-shoot cameras anymore.

Now what?

Since the professional cameras can be too expensive and difficult to master for beginners, and the simplest models will not allow you to seriously improve the skills of photography, you might have a look at the cameras that were mentioned in this article.

All the aforementioned cameras have auto modes and large sensor, and almost all of them have the possibility of using interchangeable lenses, which will allow you shooting in any conditions.

I hope you enjoyed our top 10 list of the best digital cameras for beginners in 2018 and let me know which camera you found most suitable for you in the comments area below!

Happy shooting!

Over to you: What camera is the best option for an amateur photographer in 2018?

What Is The Best Camera for An Amateur Photographer in 2018? (Our Top 10 List)

About Author

Zarina

Founder of Digital World Beauty website.
My purpose here is to provide easy-to-understand guides and reviews on digital technology to make YOUR life easier and help YOU make as informed of a decision as possible.

24 Comments

Sharon

Hi Zarina,

A very good review you have done. My teen daughter has been wanting to join her school’s photography club and was looking for an affordable camera to start with. So glad to have found your site. With quite a bit of choice here, I am having difficulty to figure out which one to go with. Anyway, thanks so much for the review and I shall go through them again to find the most suitable and affordable.

I will assume here that your daughter has no basic knowledge in the photography.

Now, out of this selection, I’d most likely choose Nikon D3300 (click to read the specs again). Why?

Well, the first camera should be easy to use and easy to understand (the settings and buttons and stuff). What I like about this camera is that it’s not only affordable but it also has the Guide Mode which will help your daughter.

Thanks for this enlightening article on beginner cameras relevant to 2018. I love taking pictures but I only use my phone! I’ve searched around stores in the city, but there are so many options is hard to know where to start looking.

I’m just curious as to what a “mirrorless’ camera is? What does this mean, and does it somehow make it better?

Hey Isaya, I agree that choosing your camera can be a challenging task and that’s why I created this list of the best digital cameras for beginners. Of course, there could be a lot more covered and choosing a camera depends on what exactly you are looking for.

Anyway, about your question.

It’ll be easier to understand what “mirrorless” means if you have basic knowledge of DSLRs. In case you don’t know that – here is how DSLRs (digital single-lens reflex cameras) work.

So, to get the light to viewfinder, (1) First the light enters through the lens; (2) second, this light gets bounced off a mirror; (3) Mirror flip-up “transferring” the light through a special prism/sensor; and then (4) it ends up being in viewfinder, that is, a photo is taken.

(I wish I could draw a diagram here but that’s the simplest I can explain in words).

Now, in mirrorless cameras, the process of getting the light to viewfinder no longer requires having the flip-up mirror and that’s why a new category of cameras is now called “mirrorless”.

You may not know this but your smartphone is mirrorless (all smartphones are). And so are most point-and-shoot cameras.

Hope I could clarify this term a bit for you.

EDIT: Forgot to answer your second question. Mirrorless do have some advantages over DSLR cameras, but they have drawbacks as well for example lower batter life or their focusing systems. Otherwise, they are great in a sense that they are lighter and smaller in size. Also, they have an accurate image preview in the viewfinder.

This article is exactly what I’ve been looking for! I have an inexpensive camera, but I would really like to get into some more photography as a hobby. I’m really looking for something with an auto mode that I can learn the manual settings as I have time.

At the moment I am trying to choose between Nikon D5300 and Canon ESO 750D, but I got confused with lenses.

My friends said that the lens is not about what is in the kit (18-55), and that you must choose the best right away. For example, is it worth choosing 18-105? Can they do portraits and everything else (landscapes, children).

And also heard that someone was buying a portrait lens of 50 mm, which takes pictures of everything (from portraits to landscapes). How to choose the best option? I don’t want to buy a portrait lens of 50 mm, and then buy another one and change them constantly.

Thank you so much for this article and looking forward to your response!Lizzie

I always thought about getting a camera but could never bring myself to spend that much money on them. Although I was on Instagram and I saw these pictures of people doing “tricks” with light.

I guess one person would stand still while the other goes around with a red flare or something around the motionless person. When everything was said and done it looked like the person was on fire. There were other ones with people writing names and stuff.

If I was going to buy a camera it would be for stuff like that. My phone can’t do whatever that is so if I were going to buy a camera, which one can do that?

Are you sure it was the CAMERA that made all the tricks? Some guys are just amazing with video-graphics and use a whole bunch of special computer programs to create something like that. If it was the camera – then unfortunately, I am not familiar with it.

I’m overwelmed with information regarding so many products! A great post but got me a bit uncertain about which one could be a good pick for me.

I personally never had a professional camera but have been reading quite a bit about photography and am very interested about it.

May I ask what you started off with in your early days? Or what you would recommend to a person that has an eye for colors and loves taking pictures of nature panoramas? Maybe with a 360 degree picture feature too!

PS. I think the thing James refered to was something about long exposure time and frame interval settings which let you have in one picture the movement of an object or in the case he was explaining a light /person.

Hey Zarina,Thanks for the nice informative website on cameras. The video reviews provided are great.As a beginner I like the Canon EOS Rebel SL1 (EOS 100D) Kit

There are certain features of this camera that I particularly liked:

• The fully automatic mode called scene intelligent auto mode which auto focuses the scene previewed.• The Creative auto mode for adjusting the background for blurry one or a sharp one is a good feature.• Background simulation which gives you a live view preview of what your background blur will look like in the finished image• Clicking pictures while video recording, though the sound of clicking will be heard in the video.

Very informative article about best digital cameras for beginners. Even though I used an SLR camera when I was much younger, technology has changed ever since and so I’m not familiar with all the features of modern DSLR photography. So, to get back in I would like to buy a “beginner” camera.

If I chose the Nikon D5300 body for the high quality ISO1600 shooting, (which you also mentioned in your best list of Nikon cameras for 2018), what would be a good lens choice to go with it?

Frankly, it really depends on your shooting tasks/purposes, and on your budget, of course. I will try to give you a few options based on what you plan to do with it and I will choose pretty cheap versions of them, after all, Nikon D5300 is a budget amateur camera.

Nikon 50mm f/1.8G is a real “golden mean” – a model with relatively affordable cost and high performance.

If I were to say it in a few words, I’d say that it’s ideal for shooting in low light conditions or for shooting portraits with a flat bokeh. It’s Silent Wave Motor (SWM) provides fast and quiet autofocusing. Last but not least, it’s extremely light and compact.

It’s not exactly my lens but Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G definitely is the choice of a portraitist, (or a wedding photographer). At the studio, the lens is pretty limited unless you shoot with a powerful pilot light.

Street portraits shot with this lens are beautiful. Any chromatic aberrations simply go to the background.

It’s a bit more expensive than Nikon 50mm f/1.8G but with what Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G has to offer, it definitely is a bang for your buck.

Now, even though I put this lens in the “travel” section, really it can be used for a wide range of shots most of the time.

Now, why would this lens be good for travels?

First of all, it has 11x travel zoom. This means that you can shoot distant objects, and it is very important when you’re traveling around. Having bought this lens, you can forget about changing lenses on your trip.

In general, the picture of this lens does not differ much from the above lenses. I think the reason why it’s more expensive is because it’s more universal. The only thing that you might not like about this lens it’s its size, you definitely wouldn’t want to use for every day purposes.

Overall, I have a feeling that Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G will suit you best in terms of shooting purposes and price. It’s definitely a very popular lens option to buy for your Nikon D5300.

Or a combination of a camera and a lens with a tilting screen and a Wi-Fi module on which I can take high-quality pictures of the mountains and mountain landscapes.

I plan on taking the camera with me to travel around, so the weight and the number of frames on one full battery charge also play an important role. It would be nice bonus if the camera had protection against moisture and fine sand.

The lack of video shooting and GPS module is probably what I would like to save on in the first place, since these functions interest me the least.

My girlfriend is into outdoor photography and her birthday is coming up.
I would like to get her a nice camera, but I have no clue what I am looking for.
After reading through your review I think i would like to go with the Nikon D7100 Kit.
Can you tell me if this is a good camera for shooting outdoors?
Also is this camera weather resistant? Or is there another model i should be looking at?
Thanks,
Brendon

However, if your girlfriend is an amateur photographer, then this camera might be a little harsh in a sense that it can take a while to learn the buttons and icons on the display. That’s why I wouldn’t recommend it to complete beginners.

I’d say Nikon D7100 is a great camera in terms of price-quality ratio, BUT it is suitable for those who already had worked with cameras at least from a low-price range.

Also, the benefit of D7100 is that it’s weather sealing compared to its alternative, Nikon D5300 (also on the list). The disadvantage is that it is more expensive.

Nikon D5300 It is one of the best landscape cameras on the market, and you could get very professional landscape photos with the right choice of lens. The camera is also smaller in size and weight, so for some ladies with small hands, that’s a bonus.

As a wide-angle lens with D5300, you can consider Nikon 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5, which is ideal for landscape photography. If it will be too expensive, you may want to consider getting a cheaper camera body but a better lens like this.

However, if your girlfriend likes more extreme weather conditions, Nikon D5300 is NOT a good choice. For that, Nikon D7100 would suit better.

Anyway, there is a lot of factors to consider as always but I still hope I could help you out.

If you have a bigger budget you may want to check out the article on the best digital cameras for 2018 according to EISA. Just don’t choose the ones that were voted as the best “prosumer” or “professional” camera because those will be too advanced for beginners.